[Central and peripheral catecholamines in the genetically hypertensive mouse].

The aim of this work was to assess if biochemical alterations are present in catecholaminergic neurons of genetically hypertensive mice (HBP strain) compared to genetically hypotensive mice (LBP strain), as well as to mice of the population (R) from which HBP and LBP strains have been selected. For that purpose, dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, in peripheral structures and brain nuclei of adult male mice from these three strains. In the adrenal medulla of HBP mice, DA, NA and A concentrations are increased when compared to R, but not to LBP mice. In the superior cervical ganglia of HBP mice, the NA concentration is decreased when compared to LBP, but increased when compared to R mice. At the central level, the NA concentration is decreased in HBP mice when compared to LBP, but not significantly changed when compared to R mice, in the following regions: locus coeruleus (-39 p. 100, p less than 0.001), A1-C1 (-17 p. 100, p less than 0.001) and A2-C2 (-19 p. 100, p less than 0.001) areas of the medulla oblongata, thoracic spinal cord (-26 p. 100, p less than 0.01), posteroventral hypothalamus (-18 p. 100, p less than 0.01) and nucleus hypothalamicus anterior (-14 p. 100, p less than 0.01). In the nucleus periventricularis, NA concentration of HBP mice is not changed when compared to both LBP and R animals. Finally, in the caudate nucleus of HBP mice, the DA concentration is decreased when compared to both R and LBP mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)